Day 1: Introduction to Node.js and Express Basics

Session 1: Understanding Node.js and Backend Development

• What is Node.js, and why use it for backend development?
• Understanding asynchronous programming and event-driven architecture
• Setting up a Node.js development environment

Session 2: Building a Simple Express.js Server

• Introduction to Express.js and its role in backend development
• Setting up an Express server from scratch
• Handling basic routing (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests)

Session 3: Middleware and Request Handling

• What is middleware, and how does it work?
• Using built-in and third-party middleware (body-parser, CORS, Morgan, etc.)
• Implementing custom middleware for logging and authentication

Session 4: Hands-on Lab – Creating an Express Server

• Setting up a simple Express server
• Creating routes with request parameters and query strings

Day 2: Building and Testing RESTful APIs with Express.js

Session 1: Creating a RESTful API with Express.js

• Understanding REST principles and designing RESTful endpoints
• Implementing CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) with Express
• Handling request validation and error responses

Session 2: Connecting Express.js with a Database (MongoDB or PostgreSQL)

• Introduction to database integration in Node.js
• Setting up MongoDB with Mongoose or PostgreSQL with Sequelize
• Writing database queries to store and retrieve data

Session 3: Testing and Deploying the Express App

• Using Postman or Insomnia to test API endpoints
• Debugging common Express.js errors and issues
• Deploying a Node.js application to Heroku or AWS

Session 4: Hands-on Lab – Building and Deploying a REST API

• Developing a basic REST API with Express.js and MongoDB/PostgreSQL
• Deploying the backend application to the cloud